Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ15: Measures to control the emission of oily fumes and odours from restaurants
Question:
Some members of the public have relayed that the emission of oily fumes and cooking odours from restaurants affects the respiratory health of residents in the topside properties. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that under the existing Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) (the Ordinance), it is necessary for the owners or operators of restaurants and food businesses to take appropriate measures to ensure that no visible cooking fumes nor objectionable odours would be emitted causing air pollution, whether the authorities have instituted prosecutions against restaurants for contravening the aforesaid requirements over the past three years; if so, of the details and the number of successful prosecutions;
(2) given that under the Ordinance, appropriate air pollution control equipment has to be installed at food premises for treating oily fumes before being discharged to the outdoor environment, whether the authorities have conducted regular surprise inspections to check if food premises have installed equipment that conforms to the specification requirements and the relevant facilities are in operation during business hours; if so, of the number of inspections conducted over the past three years;
(3) of the detailed procedures followed by the authorities in handling complaints received about the emission of oily fumes or odours from restaurants over the past three years (including how they assessed if objectionable odours had been emitted from the restaurants); the numbers of cases in which the Environmental Protection Department has issued an air pollution abatement notice to restaurants over the past three years, with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory;
(4) whether the authorities will consider further specifying standards for objectionable odours (e.g. by specifying the maximum concentrations of relevant chemical components in the odours) to facilitate enforcement; if so, of the timetable for formulating such standards; and
(5) whether the Government has conducted long-term tracking surveys on the impact of oily fumes from restaurants on the respiratory systems of nearby residents; if so, of the details?
Reply:
President,
(1) If a food premises discharges visible cooking fumes and offensive odours due to the absence of appropriate air pollution control equipment or improper operation, thereby causing an air pollution nuisance, the EPD may, in accordance with the Ordinance, issue a statutory notice to the food premises concerned requiring it to take appropriate remedial measures within a specified period to abate the cooking fumes, such as installing high-efficiency pollution control facilities like electrostatic precipitators. Failure to comply with the requirements of the statutory notice constitutes an offence. On first conviction, the offender is liable to a fine of $100,000. On a second or subsequent conviction, the offender is liable to a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months. In the past three years (i.e. 2023, 2024 and 2025), the EPD initiated prosecution in 22, 13 and 12 cases respectively for failure to comply with the requirements of such statutory notices. Apart from one case which was withdrawn due to the closure of the food premises concerned, all cases resulted in successful prosecution, with an average fine of about $15,000.
(2) and (3) Upon receiving complaints about cooking fumes or odours from food premises, the EPD will deploy staff to conduct investigations. This includes entering the kitchen to inspect the operation of air pollution control equipment and carrying out odour assessments at the affected locations to determine whether the emissions constitute an air pollution nuisance. The EPD will also initiate investigations proactively. For instance, if excessive cooking fume emissions are found during routine inspections, the EPD will issue a warning to the operator. If the situation does not improve, further enforcement action will be taken in accordance with the law.
Cooking fume problems from food premises are mostly attributable to improper operation of air pollution control equipment (such as failure to switch on the equipment) and inadequate maintenance. Operators generally rectify the situation after receiving a warning from the EPD. Statutory notices are mainly issued in cases that require more substantial remedial work, such as the installation of air pollution control equipment due to inadequate design. The number of inspections of restaurants conducted by the EPD and the number of statutory notices issued from 2023 to 2025 are set out in Tables 1 and 2 respectively.
In addition, the EPD collaborates with relevant departments to organise regular seminars to promote the installation of high-efficiency cooking fume emission control equipment and good practices. The EPD has also launched the Green Restaurant website to provide practical guidelines to assist the trade in reducing cooking fume emissions.
(4) The EPD’s method for assessing cooking fume emissions and odours is similar to the odour assessment methods and standards adopted in other regions and cities internationally. It is based on on-site environmental assessments conducted by enforcement officers, taking into account factors such as the relative location of the emission source and the affected area, the timing, duration and frequency of the emissions, whether the odour is offensive, the presence of visible cooking fumes, and whether the emissions cause discomfort to the eyes, nose, skin or other senses. We will consider these factors comprehensively to determine whether the emissions constitute an air pollution nuisance. The EPD will continue to monitor the odour assessment methods and application of new technologies in the Chinese Mainland and overseas cities with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of its assessment work on cooking fume emissions.
(5) Cooking fume emission control equipment currently available in the market is generally effective in removing cooking fumes and eliminating nuisance to nearby residents, provided that the equipment is regularly cleaned and properly maintained. The EPD will continue to conduct routine inspections of restaurants and carry out surprise checks in response to complaints to ensure that such equipment is properly operated and maintained. The EPD adopts a multi-pronged strategy of prevention, collaboration, enforcement, as well as publicity and education to actively prevent cooking fume emissions from food premises. The EPD has not conducted any tracking studies on the impact of cooking fume emissions from restaurants on residents’ respiratory systems.
Issued at HKT 11:58
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LCQ17: Regulating electrical appliances purchased through cross-border e-commerce platforms
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ17: Regulating electrical appliances purchased through cross-border e-commerce platforms
Question:
It is reported that Singapore will implement new legislation starting this July to bring under regulation the direct online purchase by individuals of regulated electrical appliances (such as water heaters and clothes dryers) from overseas, making it an offence if such appliances fail to meet the country’s energy performance standards and comply with the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme. There are views that with the proliferation of cross-border e-commerce, a large volume of electrical appliances from overseas is being sold to Hong Kong, some of which fail to meet local statutory requirements in terms of plug types and safety standards, thus posing potential fire and public safety hazards. Moreover, cross-border e-commerce platforms currently circumvent the recycling levy (i.e. the regulated electrical equipment levy) that local suppliers are required to bear under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603), as well as the requirements under the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MEELS). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of accidents such as fires and electrical leakages caused by electrical appliances purchased through cross-border online shopping, as well as the number of casualties, over the past five years; in view of the grey area in the current legislation regarding the regulation of electrical appliances purchased by individuals for personal use through cross-border online shopping, whether the authorities will study ways to enhance the regulatory regime, including exploring the establishment of a compliance collaboration mechanism with cross-border e-commerce platforms to ensure that products sold to Hong Kong comply with local statutory safety standards, and requiring such platforms to fulfil the same legal obligations as local suppliers do (including paying the recycling levy and complying with MEELS), so as to safeguard public safety and ensure a level playing field in the business environment;
(2) whether the authorities will step up random inspections targeting high-risk electrical appliances at various boundary control points, and highlight through public education the risks of electrical leakage or fire possibly caused by the prolonged use of adaptors and unauthorised modification of plugs; and
(3) whether the authorities will follow Singapore’s practice by subjecting high-risk electrical appliances purchased by individuals for personal use through cross-border e-commerce platforms to MEELS and safety regulations, so as to tackle at root, from a legal perspective, the problem of non-compliant electrical appliances flowing into Hong Kong?
Reply:
President,
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is responsible for the enforcement of the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance (Cap. 598) and the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation (Cap. 406G) made under the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406), with a view to promoting the energy efficiency of prescribed products and ensuring the safety of household electrical products. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) implements the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment through the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603) to ensure the proper disposal of abandoned regulated electrical and electronic equipment (i.e. air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, stand-alone tumble dryers, dehumidifiers, computers, printers, scanners and monitors, referred hereafter as “regulated electrical equipment” (REE)).
At present, if anyone purchases household electrical products through a cross-boundary e-commerce platform, or imports them in person for personal use, these conducts are not regarded as a supply in Hong Kong. If a cross-boundary e-commerce platform only provides product price comparison or buyer-seller matching services, and the transportation is handled by a third-party logistics provider, the platform and logistics company is also not considered as a supplier or seller. Therefore, the aforementioned products do not fall within the regulatory scope of the relevant legislations, viz. the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation, the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, and the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance. In response to the question raised by the Hon Rock Chen, our reply is as follows:
(1) Generally speaking, household electrical products supplied by e-commerce platforms in the Chinese Mainland must comply with the safety requirements of the China Compulsory Certification (3C Certification) of the country. Currently, the safety testing conducted under 3C Certification is based on Guobiao (GB) standards. They are generally equivalent to IEC international standards, meaning that the requirements for the main body of these products are largely on par with those under the Regulation in Hong Kong. In the first four months of 2026 a total of 22 incidents involving household electrical products were recorded after preliminary investigation. None of them was found to involve household electrical products supplied via cross-boundary e-commerce platforms. The Government did not maintain records of whether the household electrical products involved in incidents were supplied via cross‑boundary e‑commerce platforms in and before 2025.
The EMSD has proactively established regular communication mechanism with Chinese Mainland e-commerce platforms and reminded them that household electrical products supplied in Hong Kong must comply with local legislative requirements regarding electrical safety standards, and affix energy efficiency labelling. The EPD has already contacted relevant cross-boundary e-commerce platforms, if their business models involve the distribution or sale of REE in Hong Kong, they are required to register with the EPD as registered suppliers and/or sellers, submit quarterly returns to the EPD for the assessment and payment of recycling levies in accordance with the law. They are also required to provide a statutory free removal service. As for cross-boundary e-commerce platforms that provide matching services for merchants and buyers only and without engaging in the distribution or sale of REE, the EPD has urged them to avoid unregistered merchants to distribute REE in Hong Kong through their platforms. The EPD will continue to monitor the modus operandi of cross-boundary e-commerce platforms in Hong Kong, to ensure that their business activities in Hong Kong comply with the relevant legislative requirements.
(2) Since 2019, the EMSD has been maintaining the Cross-boundary E-commerce Working Group with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China under the Cooperation Arrangement on Electrical and Mechanical Products Safety and Energy Efficiency, which focuses on controlling the risks arising from cross-boundary e-commerce platforms. The EMSD reports to the relevant Chinese Mainland authorities, through the Working Group, on household electrical products supplied through cross-boundary e-commerce platforms to Hong Kong that fail to comply with general safety standards. Upon receipt of the report, the relevant Chinese Mainland authorities will take actions based on the actual circumstances, including requesting the e-commerce platforms to intercept orders, so that users with Hong Kong IP addresses will not be able to place orders for the relevant products. In addition, after conducting a risk assessment and confirming that the product is unsafe, the relevant authorities will request the e-commerce platforms to remove the product from shelves. The EMSD will also proactively conduct sample checks on household electrical products on cross-boundary e-commerce platforms, and engaged third parties to conduct safety standard testing. If the relevant products are found to have failed to comply with the safety standards, such as posing potential risks of fire or electric shock, the relevant Chinese Mainland authorities will be informed to intercept the import of the unsafe electrical products into Hong Kong.
As for publicity and education, the EMSD has been promoting knowledge on electrical products safety and the potential risks of cross-boundary online shopping through various channels. Relevant measures include the display of promotional materials on electronic screens at boundary control points and inside MTR stations, collaboration with departments such as the Home Affairs Department and the Fire Services Department to organise community activities, as well as placement of media advertisements and publish posts on social media platforms. The EMSD will allocate more resources this year to strengthen the dissemination of household electrical products safety information to the public through mass media channels such as television drama placements, radio broadcasts and newspaper columns, especially to remind the public of the risks associated with long-term use of adaptors and not to modify plugs themselves.
(3) The issues arising from the purchase of household electrical products via cross-boundary e-commerce platforms are complex and span across different jurisdictions, which needs careful handling. The Government has been keeping in view of the regulatory frameworks in other regions, including Singapore’s Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, which will come into effect this July. We understand that the Bill will extend the regulatory scope from electrical suppliers to individual consumers. Consumers who personally import electrical products that do not meet Singapore’s minimum energy performance standards or are not affixed with energy labels, whether for personal use or not, will be subject to a fine. The Government needs to observe how the relevant bill is implemented there upon its implementation, take into account the differences between the two regions in areas such as import and export controls and the industry environment, as well as the feasibility of local enforcement, before being in a position to assess whether similar adoptions in Hong Kong would strike a balance between public convenience and protection of consumer interests. Meanwhile, the Government will continue to enforce the laws within the existing legal framework and adopt a multi-pronged approach, including strengthening interception at source, inspections, and publicity and education.
Issued at HKT 12:00
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LCQ9: Alleviating the impact of rising fuel prices
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Junius Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):
Question:
According to statistics from fuel price information websites, Hong Kong ranks among the places with the highest fuel prices worldwide. There are views that under the influence of geopolitical factors such as conflicts in the Middle East, fuel prices in Hong Kong have continued to rise, thereby increasing the burden on people’s livelihood and the local economy. Industries such as transport and logistics, laundry services and aviation have been the first to bear the brunt, while local oil companies’ fuel pricing lacks transparency. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) given that when announcing measures to cope with fuel prices on April 29, 2026, the Government indicated that it would study different measures to alleviate the impact of rising oil prices on society and people’s livelihood, whether, apart from implementing measures such as the two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme of $3 per litre, the waiver of tunnel tolls and the provision of a liquefied petroleum gas fuel subsidy, the authorities have plans to introduce other specific measures in the future to relieve the livelihood burden on the public arising from rising fuel prices through a multi-pronged approach;
(2) whether the Government has, in recent years, conducted detailed studies and analyses on the costs and profits of oil companies, so as to ascertain specifically the causes of high fuel prices in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) whether it will consider regulating the price of oil in accordance with section 6 of the Oil (Conservation and Control) Ordinance (Cap. 264); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government is very concerned about the rising fuel prices due to the tense situation in the Middle East. The fuel supply and prices affect our daily lives. The Government’s work primarily focuses on several aspects. First, to ensure stable energy supply. Second, to enhance the transparency of information regarding changes in fuel prices. Third, the Government monitors price changes, carefully considers their reasonableness and necessity, and also reminds suppliers of their social responsibilities.
The Chief Executive has earlier directed the establishment of the Inter-departmental Task Force on Monitoring Fuel Supply (the Task Force), chaired by the Financial Secretary, to monitor and assess geopolitical changes, fuel supply and prices, to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply, and to examine the impact of oil price fluctuations on various industries.
In consultation with the Financial Secretary, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the reply to the question raised by Hon Junius Ho is as follows:
(1) The Task Force has implemented the following measures to address the fuel prices:
First, the two-month Diesel Subsidy Scheme (the Subsidy Scheme) is effective from April 30 to June 29 of this year to support public and commercial vehicles and vessels and related industries that use diesel as fuel. Under the Subsidy Scheme, users who consume diesel locally may receive a subsidy of HK$3 per litre when they purchase diesel, thereby making the selling price of diesel decrease by HK$3 per litre. The relevant subsidy measure is estimated to cost approximately HK$1.8 billion.
Second, reduce tunnel tolls by 50 per cent for all commercial vehicles using government tolled tunnels for two months from May 17 to July 16. The temporary measure aims to alleviate the operating costs of commercial vehicles; therefore, the beneficiaries are commercial vehicle drivers and operators. We estimate that approximately 165 000 registered commercial vehicles will benefit. It is expected to result in a reduction of approximately HK$160 million in tunnel toll revenue.
Third, provide a fuel subsidy of HK$0.5 per litre of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for taxis, public light buses and school private light buses for two months from May 31 to July 30. The temporary measure aims to alleviate the operating costs of local passenger transport commercial vehicles which primarily use LPG as fuel, and reduce the pressure for fare increases. It is expected that about 16 900 LPG (including LPG-hybrid) taxis, about 3 440 LPG public light buses (including green minibuses and red minibuses), and about 170 LPG school private light buses would benefit from the fuel subsidy.
Fourth, the Working Group on Public Transport Service Special Applications (the Working Group) is established to assist public transport operators (including public buses and ferries) in their applications relating to responding flexibly to rising fuel costs. The Working Group convened its first meeting on April 16 to listen to the franchised bus operators on their current business environment and operation situation, as well as measures they have taken to address the rising fuel costs. The Working Group will consider targeted temporary measures to help operators save energy and enhance operational efficiency in response to oil price fluctuations.
(2) Retail prices of auto-fuel in Hong Kong are determined by oil companies having regard to market principles and operating costs, the Government is mindful of the concerns across various sectors regarding auto-fuel prices in Hong Kong and has been monitoring whether changes in local retail prices of auto-fuel are in line with the trend movements of international refined oil product price, and in contact with oil companies and urged them to promptly adjust prices in tandem with international refined oil product price movements.
To facilitate the public monitoring of retail price adjustments for auto-fuel, with effect from April 1, 2026, the Environment and Ecology Bureau releases, on a weekly basis, the seven-day moving average retail prices, after walk-in discounts, of unleaded petrol and diesel from oil companies, along with the trends in international benchmark prices of refined oil products during the same period, to enhance transparency of market and price. The Competition Commission (CompComm) has also met with oil companies, emphasising the importance of fair competition and information transparency. The CompComm will continue to closely monitor the market for any instances of price fixing or unfair competition to ensure fair market operations.
(3) With the advantage of having strong support from the motherland, Hong Kong has been able to maintain a stable energy supply amid the emergence of energy shortages in many regions and cities around the world. Nonetheless, fuel prices in Hong Kong have still been determined according to market principles.
At present, we have no plans to regulate the prices of oil using section 6 of the Oil (Conservation and Control) Ordinance (Cap. 264). The Government will continue to conduct dynamic assessment, closely monitor the international situation and energy price movements, co-ordinate bureaux and departments to prepare contingency plans, formulate forward-looking strategies, and study different measures to alleviate the impact of rising oil prices on the society and people’s livelihood.
LCQ12: Enhancing policies to support the logistics industry
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Jimmy Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):
Question:
To enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s logistics industry and support the logistics industry in nurturing more professional talents, the Government launched the Pilot Subsidy Scheme for Third-party Logistics Service Providers (the Pilot Scheme) in 2020 and the Professional Training on Smart and Green Logistics Scheme (the Training Scheme) in 2024, and enhanced the aforesaid two schemes in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Some members of the industry have relayed that the Government should consider further enhancing the two schemes in due course. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(2) whether it will inject further funds into the Pilot Scheme and regularise the scheme; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether it will further raise the funding ceiling for the Pilot Scheme following the enhancement measures in 2024, and extend the eligibility criteria for service providers from local suppliers to international suppliers; if so, the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) of the total number of logistics practitioners who have received funding to undertake courses since the launch of the Training Scheme, and the average amount of funding per approved application; whether the funding ceiling for the Training Scheme and the funding ratios for course fees will be raised; if so, the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(4) whether the authorities will collaborate with universities and vocational training organisations to design more specialised logistics-related training courses, so as to cover emerging technologies such as transport management and warehouse management systems, Robotic Process Automation, automated storage and retrieval system, and Internet of Things sensors; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government attaches great importance to the development of Hong Kong’s logistics industry and has all along been supporting and enhancing Hong Kong’s position as an international logistics hub. To this end, the Government promulgated the Action Plan on Modern Logistics Development in 2023, which sets out eight strategies and 24 action measures following five development directions, namely smart development, modernisation, green and sustainability, internationalisation and facilitation, to address the short, medium and long-term needs of the logistics industry, thereby achieving the goal of developing Hong Kong into a sustainable international smart logistics hub focusing on high-value goods and the e-commerce market.
The reply in response to Hon Jimmy Ng’s question is as follows:
(1) and (2) The Government has all along been committed to facilitating application of subsidies by the industry while ensuring prudent use of public funds. The current application procedures and required documents are mainly used to verify the eligibility of applicant enterprises and ensure the projects under application fall within the scope of the scheme. As the Secretariat of the Pilot Scheme, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) has been providing one-on-one advisory services and organising webinars to explain the scheme’s details and successful cases, as well as operating a dedicated enquiry hotline and email, so as to help applicants understand the application process of the Pilot Scheme and hence to expedite the application handling process. The Government and the HKPC will review the operational arrangements of the Pilot Scheme continually.
As regards the eligibility of service providers, the Pilot Scheme currently requires that service providers must be companies registered in Hong Kong, so as to ensure that logistics enterprises can receive timely and appropriate local installation and technical support services during project implementation. The Pilot Scheme does not impose any specific requirements on the place of origin of the solutions.
The Government will continue to review the implementation and effectiveness of the Pilot Scheme, and will explore the feasibility of additional capital injection into and regularisation of the Pilot Scheme at a suitable juncture.
LCQ20: Traffic safety of public buses
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Following is a question by the Hon Elaine Chik and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 10):
Question:
The Public Bus Services Regulations (Cap. 230) (the Regulations) regulate the conduct of bus drivers and passengers. It has been reported that in recent years, a number of incidents involving disputes among bus enthusiasts, between passengers and bus enthusiasts, and between bus enthusiasts and bus captains have occurred in succession and adversely affected the traffic safety of buses and the order inside bus compartments. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of bus drivers and passengers prosecuted for contravening the Regulations in each of the past five years; and in such prosecution cases, of the irregularities committed respectively by the bus drivers and passengers involved, and the provisions of the Regulations contravened;
(2) whether the authorities have assessed the trend of those incidents that compromise traffic safety, and whether the penalties prescribed in the Regulations are effective in dealing with common conduct that compromises traffic safety; whether the authorities will consider amending the legislation to enhance protection for bus captains and maintain order inside bus compartments; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) given that at present, the Regulations also regulate the general conduct of passengers and intending passengers in addition to the general conduct of driver, but they do not cover other persons such as those who take photographs or videos on roads and thereby obstruct or interfere with the workings of buses, whether the authorities will review the legislation to enhance the regulation of conduct that obstructs or interferes with the workings of buses; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(4) apart from taking enforcement action, what specific measures (such as publicity and education, or strengthening collaboration with bus companies) have been put in place by the authorities to prevent the recurrence of those incidents that compromise traffic safety, in particular to reduce conduct that obstructs or interferes with the workings of a bus while it is in motion, so as to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and other road users?
Reply:
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has always attached great importance to the operational safety of franchised buses as well as the safety of passengers and other road users. Also, it has been working with franchised bus operators (FBOs) through various measures to enhance the safety awareness of bus captains and passengers. Having consulted the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), our response to the questions raised by the Hon Chik is as follows:
(1) to (3) At present, the Public Bus Services Regulations (Hong Kong Legislation Cap. 230A) (the Regulations) prescribe the requirements in respect of behaviours that obstruct buses or bus captains, so as to ensure driving safety and smooth operation of franchised bus services. Regulation 13A stipulates that no passenger or intending passenger shall wilfully obstruct, impede or distract the bus captain, or improperly interfere with the bus body and its workings. Any person, who contravenes the relevant provisions without reasonable excuse, commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $3,000 and imprisonment for six months. Regulation 13 also authorises a bus captain to remove from a bus any person whom he has reasonable cause to believe has contravened the relevant regulations, to require that person to give his name and address and produce proof of identity, and where necessary, to detain such person until he can be handed over to a police officer.
Regarding persons who take photographs or videos on roads and thereby obstruct or interfere with the operations of buses, the existing legislation also covers the misbehaviour of pedestrians on roads that endangers their own safety or that of any other person. According to section 48 of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), a pedestrian, who in using any road negligently endangers his own safety or that of any other person, commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $2,000. The HKPF does not keep the numbers of bus captains, passengers and pedestrians prosecuted for contravening the Regulations or the relevant requirements under the Road Traffic Ordinance mentioned above.
(4) The Transport Department (TD) is much concerned about the disturbance faced by franchised bus captains while on duty. The TD has all along been maintaining close communication with FBOs and provided them with training video materials for bus captains’ reference. The materials mainly cover how bus captains should respond to various possible situations on buses, including skills for handling emergencies or dealing with passenger behaviours that may endanger driving safety, as well as emotional and psychological well-being of bus captains themselves. In addition, the TD convenes regular meetings with FBOs to remind them to monitor whether frontline bus captains encounter disturbance when carrying out driving duties and, where necessary, report to the police for assistance in a timely manner. The Government also collaborates with the Road Safety Council on publicity initiatives from time to time to remind the public of road safety.
In parallel, FBOs have adopted various measures to assist their bus captains and frontline staff (including regulators and inspectors) in enhancing their skills and capabilities to handle various situations. For instance, their training courses have placed greater emphasis on customer service and communication skills, as well as ways to handle passenger complaints. Furthermore, FBOs have stepped up public education efforts regarding passenger conduct and guidelines, including by displaying notices inside bus compartments to remind passengers not to wilfully impede captains. CCTV systems have been installed at bus termini and inside bus compartments to monitor service operations and compartment situations. When necessary, FBOs will provide the footage of the relevant CCTV systems to law enforcement departments to assist in their investigations.
The TD will continue to maintain close communication with FBOs and relevant government departments, and to take appropriate measures to ensure safe operation of the franchised buses.
DH shares health tips as World Cup set to open
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH shares health tips as World Cup set to open
Adequate sleep and exercise
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With the busy schedule of World Cup matches and the time difference between Hong Kong and the host countries, fans are reminded to get enough sleep during the tournament. Otherwise, their immunity may decrease, making them prone to illness and affecting their concentration. This increases the risk of accidents and injuries.
About 80 per cent of heart disease, strokes and type 2 diabetes, and 40 per cent of cancers could be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Under the Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong
The DH recommends that, in addition to watching football matches, the public should also participate in various sports activities as much as possible to experience the joy of exercise and athletic competition themselves. Even if they are unable to do aerobic exercise, fans should avoid sitting still for long periods while watching matches. They can stretch or move around regularly, and may also consider walking on the spot while watching the game. Walking 10 000 steps a day to increase daily levels of physical activity, combined with a balanced diet, helps maintain a healthy weight.
Balanced diet
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Some people enjoy watching sports while snacking on crispy, tasty treats (such as potato chips and fried foods) and drinking sugary beverages. However, to protect one’s health, members of the public can choose healthier snacks, such as baked potato chips or baked sweet potato chips, unsalted and unsweetened roasted nuts, and low-fat popcorn, while keeping portion sizes under control. People can also replace snacks with fruits and vegetables to practice “Two Plus Three Every Day” (i.e. eat at least two servings of fruits and at least three servings of vegetables every day) to obtain adequate dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals, which help prevent chronic diseases. Concerning beverages, sugar-free or low-sugar options should be chosen instead of sugary beverages.
Stay away from tobacco and alcohol
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The DH reminded the public to avoid drinking alcohol while watching football matches. Choosing non-alcoholic beverages can provide just as much enjoyment.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the WHO, alcohol has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen (a cancer-causing agent to humans), the same category as tobacco smoke. There is no “safe drinking limit”. The more you drink, the higher the risk. Furthermore, alcohol is high in calories. Heavy drinking not only increases the risk of obesity but also impairs brain function and affects self-control. Consuming large amounts of alcohol over a short period of time, even occasionally, can lead to irresponsible behaviour. Members of the public should not pressure their friends to drink or engage in drinking contests. Binge drinking (also known as heavy episodic drinking with consumption of more than 60 grams of pure alcohol on a single occasion, which is equivalent to approximately five cans of beer or five glasses of table wine or five pegs of spirits) increases the risk of alcoholic intoxication, accidental injury, violence and traffic accidents.
Both smoking and secondhand smoke are harmful to health. The public should avoid tobacco, and encourage family and friends to quit smoking. When cravings strike, smokers can wash their face, do stretching exercises, take deep breaths or drink water to distract themselves. The DH has launched the “Quit in June” campaign. Over 300 community pharmacies, smoking cessation clinics, District Health Centers (DHCs)/DHC Expresses and DH clinics are currently distributing free one-week smoking cessation drug trial packs. Additionally, designated Chinese medicine clinics covering more than 200 locations across Hong Kong are distributing free Chinese medicine ear points patches to help smokers who wish to quit alleviate withdrawal symptoms. For details, please visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk
Quality family time
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The DH reminded the public to maintain a regular daily routine during this four-yearly football extravaganza. They should try to strike a balance between watching the matches and engaging in normal social activities in order to safeguard their own health and that of their families.
Issued at HKT 12:40
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LCQ8: Promoting national defence education
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ8: Promoting national defence education
Question:
The country revised, adopted and implemented in September 2024 the National Defence Education Law of the People’s Republic of China, which stipulates that national defence education is the foundation for building and consolidating national defence and an important way to enhance national cohesion and improve the overall quality of the citizens. There are views that national defence education, being a core component of patriotic education and national security education, is crucial for strengthening the sense of national identity, the sense of national pride and the awareness of national defence among Hong Kong people, particularly young people. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of local youth national defence and military experience activities funded or co-organised by the SAR Government, as well as the respective number of participants, their age distribution and the amount of government funding allocated, in each year from 2023 to 2025;
(2) whether the Working Group on Patriotic Education (Working Group) has established more indicative strategies for promoting national defence education in local primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions under its work plans for 2026 and 2027; whether the Working Group has future plans to collaborate with the Hong Kong Garrison and/or Mainland institutions to increase the number of places for local or Mainland military experience camps, so as to meet the demands of more schools and youth groups; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) whether the SAR Government has future plans to step up communication and collaboration with the Hong Kong Garrison or relevant Mainland authorities to secure the visit to Hong Kong of more advanced national military equipment for exhibition or public viewing on major festive occasions such as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Day or National Defence Education Day, so as to enhance Hong Kong people’s understanding and awareness of national defence; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(4) of the exchange programmes participated by tertiary institutions and primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to the Mainland for thematic studies on national defence, military affairs or aerospace technologies under the Education Bureau’s programme of Mainland study tours of the Citizenship and Social Development Subject or other government-funded projects, as well as the numbers of participants therein, in the past three years; how the Government assesses the actual educational effectiveness of these study tours; and
(5) in the era of big data and digitalisation, whether the Government has plans to increase resource investment in frontier technology (such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality and metaverse technology), as well as to collaborate with scientific research institutes to develop simulation systems suitable for classroom national defence education, with a view to enhancing young people’s interest in national defence technology and the effectiveness of national defence education through immersive and interactive methods; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
The Government has been making relentless efforts to build mainstream values characterised by patriotism with affection for our country and Hong Kong and in conformity with the principle of “one country, two systems”. It has also been actively organising a diverse range of public and school education activities to promote patriotic education and national security education, with a view to enhancing citizens’ and students’ sense of national identity, national pride, and awareness of safeguarding national security. Among these, national defence education constitutes an important component of patriotic education and national security education.
In response to the question raised by the Hon Wu Ying-peng, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), the Security Bureau and the Education Bureau (EDB) provide a consolidated reply as follows:
(1) to (5)
Collaboration with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison
In celebration of Hong Kong’s return to the Motherland, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison organises barracks open days around July 1, with a view to further enhancing communication and exchanges with different sectors of the local community. In 2021, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison Exhibition Center was set up at Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks. An exhibition themed “Dreams of the East” is staged in its three thematic exhibition halls, namely “the Chinese Dream”, “the Dream of a Strong Military” and “the PRC HK Garrison”, along with a weaponry and equipment area displaying historical photos, antiques and models of the PLA’s military equipment. Through the visits, members of the public can deepen their understanding of the remarkable achievements of the country, the nation’s military history and the work of the Hong Kong Garrison.
As one of the highlight events of the Youth Festival, the HYAB has organised visits to the PLA Hong Kong Garrison Exhibition Center for local youth (including leaders and members of youth uniformed groups/non-governmental organisations, youth hostel tenants and Youth Link members) since 2023. This initiative, benefiting over 700 participants in total, aims to enhance young people’s understanding of our country’s military history and the work of the Hong Kong Garrison, strengthening affection for and sense of belonging to the country. The visits are organised by the HYAB mainly through its existing resources, thus the expenditure involved cannot be singled out. Over the past three years, the District Offices (DOs) under the Home Affairs Department have organised a total of four visits to the PLA Hong Kong Garrison Exhibition Center, drawing nearly 200 participants, the majority of whom were young people aged 12 to 35. These visits were arranged by the respective DOs using their existing resources and manpower, and no additional funding was involved.
The EDB has also issued circular memorandums to primary and secondary schools, encouraging schools to arrange visits to the PLA Hong Kong Garrison Exhibition Center so as to enhance primary and secondary students’ sense of national identity, national pride and national defence awareness, and to enable them to deeply appreciate the importance of safeguarding national security. At the same time, the EDB jointly organises the “Military Summer Camp for Hong Kong Youth” with the Hong Kong Garrison and the Concerted Efforts Resource Centre for secondary students each year. The numbers of students joining the “Military Summer Camp for Hong Kong Youth” from the 2023/24 to 2025/26 school years are set out as follows: